More than just memorization

Sophomore Alexa Heald recites a poem during Eagle River High’s Poetry Out Loud contest Feb. 2. Heald won and will participate in the regional competition Feb. 24 in Anchorage.

For nearly two months, Alexa Heald has been practicing for the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest.

Even the night of Eagle River High’s competition Feb. 2, Heald repeatedly recited one of her poems during a seven-minute intermission. Tucked away in a corner of Eagle River’s library facing the wall, the sophomore rehearsed Dorothy Parker’s “Love Song.”

Her hard work paid off.

Heald won Eagle River’s seventh annual contest and will participate in the regional competition along with senior runner-up Laura Richardson at the Wilda Marston Theatre in Anchorage’s Loussac Library on Feb. 24. The winner will advance to the national finals in Washington, D.C., on May 13-15 for a chance to claim the $20,000 prize.

Poetry competitions require more work than simply committing words to memory, Heald said. A person needs to understand a poem to perform well, she said.

“It is more than just memorizing,” Heald said.

Eagle River High language arts teacher Clinton Holloway agreed.

“I don’t think you can fake the tone,” he said. “It really takes analysis and understanding to effectively bring it to life.”